It wrote: “In the last few weeks we have seen and read extensively about what happens to lions in the industry.

“Mufasa has had a vasectomy and cannot be bred with. This means there is only one of two options left.

“The number of lion hunters are down and lions have been killed in high numbers for their bones to be exported to the East.”

And it continued: “Soraya and Mufasa are inseparable and it would be extremely traumatic for Soraya to lose her companion.

“She was in a terrible emotional state before they were united as cubs and even when moved to a bigger enclosure she was highly anxious when she woke up and couldn’t find Mufasa.”

Comedian and animal rights campaigner Ricky Gervais alerted his followers to Mufasa’s plight, tweeting: “Shame on the pathetic sadist who pays the money to shoot this animal, and shame on the snivelling coward who accepts the money too. Both worthless.”